From her home in Oxford, Lydia's travels take her to the Lake District, Cambridge, Essex and Sussex. Along the way she meets Stephen, who becomes the sounding-board for her theories. She also meets Dorothy, a descendant of the long lost family. As the original purpose of her quest is fulfilled, the potentially deadly secrets of the journal emerge. Lydia's worst suspicions appear to be confirmed when she uncovers the circumstances of the journal writer's death. But even then the truth remains elusive.

The author has drawn on a wide range of experience and enthusiasms to create a compelling novel that will attract puzzle solvers and family historians alike. Combined with a strong sense of time and place, A Habit of Dying will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.